"Heaven" | |
---|---|
Song by Talking Heads | |
from the album Fear of Music | |
Released | August 3, 1979 |
Genre | Country rock [1] |
Length | 4:01 |
Label | Sire |
Songwriter(s) | David Byrne, Jerry Harrison |
Producer(s) | Brian Eno, Talking Heads |
Audio | |
"Heaven (2005 Remaster)" on YouTube |
"Heaven" is a song by the American new wave band Talking Heads, released on their 1979 album Fear of Music . The song was performed live in their 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense , and a live recording from 1979 was included on the 2004 CD reissue of the band's live album The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads . The lyrics refer to heaven as a "place where nothing ever happens", where a party and a kiss repeat the exact same way endlessly. The song has been called "the calm after [the band's] unusual ominous storm" by Bill Janovitz of AllMusic, [2] as well as something "psychologists would certainly have a field day with" by author and The Guardian journalist Ian Gittins. [3]
Dave Bell, writing for quarterly UK magazine Ceasefire, argued that the song "epitomises pop as Samuel Beckett might write it: tedious, beautiful and desperate". [4]
In 1995 the song was covered by Iva Davies and Icehouse on The Berlin Tapes, the soundtrack album accompanying the ballet Berlin, for which Icehouse performed live on stage.
In 1996, the song was covered by Jimmy Scott on his album of the same name. [5] [6] [7]
The song was covered by Eric Burdon on his 2004 album My Secret Life [8] [9] and in 1985 by Simply Red for their album Picture Book . [10] [11]
A German-language cover of the song, "Der Weg in die Ferne", was recorded by Joachim Witt for his 1980 album Silberblick .[ citation needed ]
In 1986, Thomas Di Leva made a Swedish-language adaptation of the song, named "Himlen". It was recorded for his album Pussel, [12] and was also the B-Side of his single "Snurra bakåt!" [13]
Singer Q Lazzarus covered "Heaven" for the 1993 film Philadelphia . Her version has never been made available in its complete form.[ citation needed ]
The National contributed a cover of "Heaven" to the 2024 Talking Heads tribute album Everybody's Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense. [14]
Talking Heads was an American rock band that began performing under that name in 1975 in New York City. The band was composed of David Byrne, Chris Frantz (drums), Tina Weymouth (bass) and Jerry Harrison. Described as "one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the '80s," Talking Heads helped to pioneer new wave music by combining elements of punk, art rock, funk, and world music with "an anxious yet clean-cut image".
Eric Victor Burdon is an English singer and songwriter. He was previously the lead vocalist of the R&B and rock band the Animals and the funk band War. He is regarded as one of the British Invasion's most distinctive singers with his deep, powerful blues-rock voice. Burdon is also known for his intense stage performances.
Tony Oxley was an English free improvising drummer and electronic musician.
Icehouse are an Australian rock band, formed in Sydney in 1977 as Flowers. Initially known in their homeland for their pub rock style, the band later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synth-pop music and attained Top 10 singles chart success locally and in both Europe and the U.S. The mainstay of both Flowers and Icehouse has been Iva Davies supplying additional musicians as required. The name "Icehouse", adopted in 1981, comes from an old, cold flat Davies lived in and the strange building across the road populated by itinerant people.
"Tumbling Dice" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. It was released worldwide as the lead single from the band's 1972 double album Exile on Main St. on 14 April 1972 by Rolling Stones Records. A product of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' songwriting partnership, the song contains a blues and boogie-woogie-influenced rhythm that scholars and musicians have noted for its unusual tempo and groove. The lyrics are about a gambler who cannot remain faithful to any woman.
"All the Way" is a song published in 1957 by Maraville Music Corporation. The music was written by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Sammy Cahn.
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"Psycho Killer" is a song by American rock band Talking Heads, released on their debut studio album Talking Heads: 77 (1977). The group first performed it as the Artistics in 1974.
"Gloria" is a rock song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, and originally recorded by Morrison's band Them in 1964. It was released as the B-side of "Baby, Please Don't Go". The song became a garage rock staple and a part of many rock bands' repertoires.
"Life During Wartime" is a song by the American new wave band Talking Heads, released as the first single from their 1979 album Fear of Music. It entered the US Billboard Pop Singles Chart on November 3, 1979, and peaked at number 80, spending a total of five weeks on the chart.
The Black-Man's Burdon is a double album by American band Eric Burdon and War, released in December 1970 on MGM Records. It was the last album by the group before Burdon left and the remaining band continued as War.
Sven Thomas Magnusson, known by his stage names Thomas Di Leva or simply Di Leva, is a Swedish singer and songwriter.
Bill Janovitz is an American musician and writer. He is the singer, guitarist, and songwriter of alternative rock band Buffalo Tom, and has also released three solo albums. Janovitz has written extensively for Allmusic, authored the Exile on Main St. book for the 33⅓ series, and contributed to Boston magazine, the Boston Phoenix, and Post Road magazine. He wrote Rocks Off: 50 Tracks That Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones (2013) and Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time's Journey Through Rock & Roll History (2023), which was a New York Times Best Seller.
Birdbrain is the second album by American alternative rock band Buffalo Tom, released in 1990. J Mascis again assisted with production, alongside Sean Slade. Buffalo Tom singer/guitarist Bill Janovitz said that Mascis's influence probably accented the band's edgier side. Mascis is credited as "Monte Rose" for a guitar solo on the title track.
"Spill the Wine" is the debut single by singer Eric Burdon and the band War, released in May 1970. It was backed by the non-album track "Magic Mountain", and was War's first Billboard chart hit.
The Berlin Tapes is a soundtrack album, credited to Australian rock musician Iva Davies and Icehouse. The record was a collaboration between Davies and classical music composer Max Lambert to accompany the Sydney Dance Company's production of the ballet Berlin, for which Icehouse performed live on stage.
"Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" is a song by American rock band Talking Heads. It is the first track on their 1980 album Remain in Light.
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Love Is All Around is a studio album by Eric Burdon and War. Released in 1976 on ABC Records, it contains tracks recorded during the band's brief existence from 1969 to 1971, but not found on their two albums from 1970. Many years later it was reissued on CD by Avenue Records; this edition restores the original group name, Eric Burdon and War.
"Whispering Pines" is a song written by Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson that was first released by The Band on their self-titled 1969 album The Band. It was released as a single in France, backed by "Lonesome Suzie".